The Mitchell Institute for Aerospace Research and Common Atomics Aeronautical Methods, Inc. (GA-ASI) introduced the 2022 Remotely Piloted Plane (RPA) Squadron of the Yr Award to the 2nd Particular Operations Squadron (SOS) at a particular ceremony on the Air Pressure Affiliation’s Air, Area & Cyber Convention on Sept. 11, 2023. The award is given yearly to the Squadron that distinguishes itself via its employment of RPA in meritorious service.
The 2022 award was introduced by Lt. Gen. Jim Slife, Deputy Chief of Employees for Operations for the U.S. Air Pressure; GA-ASI President David R. Alexander; and Lt. Gen. (Ret.) David A. Deptula, the Dean of the Mitchell Institute.
The 2nd SOS, generally known as the Scorpions, are primarily based out of Hurlburt Discipline, Florida. The Scorpions flew over 16,000 hours all through 2022 in help of Operation ENDURING SENTINEL, Operation OCTAVE SHIELD, and Operation INHERENT RESOLVE. The Squadron additionally paved the way in which for satellite tv for pc launch and restoration operations throughout Emerald Flag, they usually demonstrated Reaper Agile Fight Employment. The Scorpions accelerated progress in the direction of realizing the Division of the Air Pressure’s future ideas of operation for unmanned techniques within the 2020s and past.
“I used to be thrilled to current the award to the Scorpions for his or her extraordinary use of MQ-9A Reapers within the protection of our nation,” stated Alexander. “They expanded their use of Reapers and demonstrated how capabilities like Automated Takeoff and Touchdown may very well be successfully executed from residence models inside the U.S. to wherever on the earth utilizing satellite tv for pc beyond-line-of-sight connectivity.”
The 2nd SOS flew demonstrations each in Massive Pressure Workout routines, together with the primary time an MQ-9A carried out Agile Fight Employment as a part of Emerald Flag 2022, they usually additionally employed these procedures in fight environments for the primary time in two completely different categorized areas of duty (AOR). They developed and skilled instructors that shared this data with different squadrons and aircrew inside the MQ-9A enterprise.
